School Stress

School is returning.

✔️Uniforms purchased.

✔️School shoes fit (after one return of the original ones and disagreement with the sales person...no we don't need two sizes bigger they don't need growing room now they are in high school).

✔️ Timetables coming.

Stress levels rising>>>>>

You may be noticing that behaviours you thought had changed in your teen over the break are now returning.

There's more pressures coming in the family for everyone.

For your teen as they navigate the new year changes.

And for you the mental loading and feeling balls are going to be dropped.

It's not just kids going back to school you need to think about.

It’s work, parents, dogs, cats, housework, exercise routines, self-care…

And then there’s how your teen is going to cope with going back to school.

The pressures of all of this can lead to family blow ups and breakdowns in the lead up to the school term starting.

Just when you want everything to start fresh and go smoothly.

Your teen may stop being so compliant.

Like two storm fronts colliding, your stress managing all the beginning of the year “to do’s” may collide with your teen’s lack of organisation, sleep routine or holiday device use leading to some category 5 family storms that have hit or are fast approaching.

I see you.

You are trying your best.

But as you watch the emotions explode...

or are frustrated with lack of change

...you are starting to wonder whether there is something wrong with your parenting…

Or something wrong with your kid.

It’s neither.

It’s a stormy season.

You can’t always stop a storm.

What you can do is protect yourself and your child during the storm.

No matter the struggles with your teen or tween right now it is vital that you…

1. Protect yourself by being kind to yourself. You are a good parent, you are trying your best. You can work out wherever you are stuck and…

2. Protect your kid by not falling into the pit of “what’s wrong with you!” Rather remember they are the child you love in a storm with you, and you can guide them out. They are not the storm.

3. Take one day at a time. Sometimes we all need to blow off some steam and wake the next day ready to take on the world. Storms do pass.

If your teen is really struggling with school and things are feeling particularly daunting. Remember you are not alone. There are many parents of teens in the same position and I am here to help and support where I can.

If this is you then I encourage you to take things a day at a time.

And when a day feels too much and you worry how you will have the energy for another morning of battles or onslaught of tears, take it an hour at a time.

The load on parents of kids with school reluctance or refusal is huge. I see you and all you do and your teen is lucky to have you.

Here to help.

If you want support with the return the school battles and struggles you might want to check out my Calm Connection Program ​here.​